Prolonged Admission Permitted: Venice Expands Length of Stay
Venice, the iconic lagoon city in northern Italy, has announced an expansion of its day visit fees for the upcoming years. The move is aimed at managing mass tourism in the historic city.
Since last year, Venice has been charging visitors for short stays, with the number of charging days increasing from 29 to 54 in 2023. Next year, the city plans to charge for day visits on more days than this year, with the fees applying to the streets around St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge.
In 2023, the city administration generated approximately 5.4 million euros from over 720,000 day visitors. However, critics argue that the entry fee will not deter many from visiting Venice due to the city's high costs. Indeed, a cup of cappuccino at St. Mark's Square can cost up to 17 euros.
The access fee, called "contributo di accesso" in Italian, is still in a trial phase. The fees for future day visits are expected to be more expensive, but the exact amount for next year's day visit fees is still unknown.
Hotel guests who stay in Venice for an extended period are exempt from the daily fee but must pay an overnight tax. The next round of day visit fees in Venice will begin on April 3, 2026, and end on July 26.
It is worth noting that approximately 50,000 people still live in the historic center of Venice, fewer than the number of hotel beds available. This indicates the significant impact tourism has on the city.
The responsibility for the introduction and extension of the entrance fee entitlement for short visits to Venice lies with the Italian government. Despite the controversy, the charging of visitors for short stays will continue next year.
Many day visitors managed to avoid paying the access fee in 2023, but with the expansion of the charging days, it is expected that more visitors will comply with the new regulations. The city administration hopes that the fees will help manage the influx of tourists and preserve the city's unique charm for future generations.
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